Editor’s note: McKnight’s Home Care, McKnight’s Senior Living and McKnight’s Long-Term Care News are profiling the McKnight’s 2023 Women of Distinction honorees daily from July 5 to Aug. 15. For additional McKnight’s Women of Distinction content, visit this page.

Amy Bucher is known to colleagues and residents as a naturalborn leader who leads with a purpose. That purpose is: No matter the circumstance, do the right thing. That means doing the right thing for customers, residents and staff members.

Bucher expects the best from herself, both personally and professionally, and has a way of mentoring others so that they also rise to their best. She does so without expectation of gratitude or accolades; she leads for the love of the field and the people who work in it. 

Colleagues say she demonstrates a strong belief in and encouragement of others, helping them pursue their achievements both within and outside of the long-term care field. She also is known for encouraging others to expand their knowledge so they can pursue any goal they may have expressed to her.

Bucher earned a degree in healthcare administration from Oregon State University in the late 1990s and has been in the aging services field ever since, as an assisted living facility administrator, skilled nursing facility administrator and director of operations.

Bucher drives herself to be the best at whatever she touches: sports, relationships, leadership—the list is endless, as is her energy, spirit, compassion and knowledge. Others could do her job, but few are thought to be able to do it with her humor, generosity, strong opinions, boundless energy, strength, and empathy, and the ability to know when to apply each.

She has been with the Marquis company for more than 24 years. Bucher contributes to the Vital Life Foundation, which has the goal of supporting organizations and programs that provide meaning and vitality in the lives of older adults and staff members living and working in senior living and care.

She is known by colleagues as having inspired many leaders in the profession through her encouragement, support, trustworthiness, diligence, open-mindedness, reliability and focused guidance. Because of this, Bucher has motivated many individuals to start, continue and persevere in their calling to the long-term care industry.

The McKnight’s Women of Distinction program is jointly administered by McKnight’s Home Care, McKnight’s Senior Living and McKnight’s Long-Term Care News. PointClickCare is the Diamond sponsor of this year’s program. PharMerica is the Silver sponsor. Additional sponsors include American HealthTech, Healthcare Services Group, Omnicare, Sentrics and ShiftKey.

Visit this web page to see lists of honorees from 2023 and previous years.